I put a note on top of the inside of my bag politely explaining the contents and asking the TSA agents to be careful searching it, and thank them in advance. Even the times where my bag has been searched everything has been in perfectly good order and nothing has ever broken.

Beer Trader

Every time packing bottles my bag was searched, and only a growler sprung a leak during one trip, so I don't try to carry full growlers anymore. FedEx is not a bad way to go if you have enough valuable beers to make it worth it.

I travelled from Mexico to Europe with a stop to the US, having in my bag a couple of cans, a six pack of Bohemia Chocolate Stout and some other south american beers. When I finally got home, I found a TSA note saying my bag was searched. Everything was fine except for one broken bottle ( I don't remember what it was, but I didn't cry, so it was not something I didn't have already ). If dirty clothes don't do their job as cushion, they work as sponge too.
Also annoyed that my bag was searched without me present, and by the fact the note mentions that they have the right to even break any locks on the suitcase without even bother telling you.

Beer Trader

The other option is to check a box. I fly Southwest a lot, so this option comes in handy with them, since 2 bags are free. On my last trip to Portland, I picked up a 12 bottle styro shipper there, filled it up, and checked it in as luggage.

Apparently TSA went through it, but they did a nice job taping it up (with their special TSA "Inspected" tape) and everyone made it home just fine.

No because of the stupid 3-1-1 liquid rule. Unless, of course, there's a shop inside the secure zone that sells beer. Last time I was at the Eugene airport you could buy bombers of Deschutes Black Butte porter and carry them on, so I scooped a couple up.

No because of the stupid 3-1-1 liquid rule. Unless, of course, there's a shop inside the secure zone that sells beer. Last time I was at the Eugene airport you could buy bombers of Deschutes Black Butte porter and carry them on, so I scooped a couple up.

Beer Trader

No carry on. 3 ounces or less for liquid.

Also, just had an issue with southwest airlines. They pulled my bags and told me I needed to have the bottles bubble wrapped. I had 8 bottles needing bubble wrap that I didn't wrap myself and they charged me $20 for the lot and did it themselves.

The bag that they didn't check had 2 bottles wrapped in towels. Unfortunately, my Victory at Sea popped its cap and 90% of it leaked into the one towel. My Palette Wrecker lost it's seal and was leaking CO2 so I just drank that as soon as I unpacked. This was the first time that bottles I wrapped in clothing myself didn't make the trip. J

Also, just had an issue with southwest airlines. They pulled my bags and told me I needed to have the bottles bubble wrapped. I had 8 bottles needing bubble wrap that I didn't wrap myself and they charged me $20 for the lot and did it themselves.

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And still, that was cheaper than the $25-50 other airlines charge per bag.

Check airline policies. American requires that alcohol be packed in styrofoam containers. I almost had a really bad experience when my bag checked in at 49 pounds and I said something like "yeah, I get to take all the beer home". The gate agent told me it had to be in styrofoam. I assured her that it was well packed, but it would have sucked to not get to keep it.

Found that a soft cooler with gel packs kept my 2L growler (compression seal) protected and cold enough that it could be enjoyed immediately upon arrival back at home. I wouldn't try it with a screw cap growler.

Beer Trader

I flew back from WA to NC through Southwest, which allows you to check two things for free. I used the second free checked bag to send a 12 bottle wine shipper full of beer and brought my tulips in my carry-on since they're more fragile.

I always grab free newspaper publications for wrapping, in whatever city I am in. Then I put them in old socks I bring along. I also have used non-square bags (travelers backpacks and the like) as I figure they wouldn't be able to put my bag of beer under other bags since it's an odd shape; which hopefully reduces the risk of a crush or something.

Ziplock bags are your friend. I do wrap a bottle in newspaper and then in bubble wrap, and place bottle in a ziplock bag, wrap in clothes. The bag is more insurance, so it won't leak on yours or others bags.

The cabin is pressurized not the underbelly where cargo is stored. Just saying

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No, that is not correct. A Jetliner is fully pressurized, the belly would collapse otherwise. Planes expand and contract from takeoff to airborne and landing. Trying to pressurize half the plane isn't practical.

If you brought your pet with it goes in the cargo hold. Fido dies when crusing at 35,000 feet...and not pressurized.

Beer Trader

Beer Trader

Check airline policies. American requires that alcohol be packed in styrofoam containers. I almost had a really bad experience when my bag checked in at 49 pounds and I said something like "yeah, I get to take all the beer home". The gate agent told me it had to be in styrofoam. I assured her that it was well packed, but it would have sucked to not get to keep it.

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I fly AA every week. never packed in styrofoam before. the 70 bottles above, no styrofoam. She asked what was in them, and I told her.

Beer Trader

On my last trip I packed 4 different bombers. One of them broke and it was snuggly wrapped inside a cushy jacket (which absorbed most of the liquid). My bag still smells like BORIS the Crusher and has a huge ass black stain. I think it's pretty cool. My wife doesn't.

The other option is to check a box. I fly Southwest a lot, so this option comes in handy with them, since 2 bags are free. On my last trip to Portland, I picked up a 12 bottle styro shipper there, filled it up, and checked it in as luggage.

Apparently TSA went through it, but they did a nice job taping it up (with their special TSA "Inspected" tape) and everyone made it home just fine.

Beer Trader

I travel to Philly once a month from Chicago for the pas 2 years. Socks and ziplock bags are your friends. I find that if you put your stuff in the middle of the suitcase between your dirty clothes, you're good to go. Ive never lost anything and I usually bring back a few bombers and a couple of six packs each tims.

Beer Trader

I use a Wine Check, a reusable rolling luggage piece that holds a 12 bottle Styrofoam shipper (and the shippers last multiple times). On designated beer trips, I use 2 wine checks and a carryon backpack for my clothes.

I checked a box with about 15 750ml of hill farmstead. The lady at Logan just asked if they are secure and wouldn't leak. She was even nice enough to tape the box up better and put a few fragile stickers on the box!

Beer Trader

I've done it many times, never had an issue. Even gotten the paper in my suitcase that said my bag was inspected and still got everything intact.

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See, I've actually had a different experience with TSA. I've never had beer break in my luggage, but I have had two bottles of cachaça and a coffee mug (all on different flights, too) break in my luggage because of the way TSA repacked my bag. EDIT: actually, three bottles of cachaça, now that I think about it, all on different flights (and all purchased in Brazil, because it's almost impossible to get decent cachaça in the U.S.)

It sucks when you land in England, after having very carefully and very deliberately packed your bag with lots of padding and sealing up liquids and doing everything to be careful with breakable items, to find that it was all jumbled up and breakable items were just thrown wherever, next to vulnerable areas of your luggage, resulting in all of your clothes reeking of liquor and with tiny shards of broken glass everywhere.